About STFF
Inaugurated in 2012 by the TACAWA Film Committee, Seattle Turkish Film Festival has become one of the most admired and venerated events of the Turkish American Cultural Association of Washington. The film festival is a non-profit, volunteer-driven event, committed to bringing the best of Turkish films to Seattle in an effort to provide an international platform for talented filmmakers working in both short and feature length formats to showcase their work.
Read Washington State Governor Jay Inslee's Proclamation of Turkish Republic Day and Turkish Heritage Month.
Meet the Team
Semih Tareen
Festival Director
Originally from Izmir, Turkey, but now a Seattle-native for nearly 30 years, Semih works as a scientist in biotech and composes music for B-horror movies that he also co-produces.
Demet Kitis
Director of Programming
Demet studied business in Turkey with Master's degrees in Marketing. Enjoys drawing cartoons and illustrating stories. Loves the 7th art.
Sarah Anderson
Creative Director
My dad gave me my Turkish ancestry, my mom gave me my last name, and I gave myself this bio. Artist, designer and art director. Let’s go to the beach!
Melik Yucel Koc
Academic Advisor
Melike Yucel-Koc is an assistant teaching professor of Ottoman & Turkish Studies at the University of Washington. She is an oral historian, working with immigrant communities in PNW. Loves languages, history, & any form of art.
Irem Gokce Aydin
STFFShorts Director
Working as a software engineer, also contributing to the team as a videographer and website developer, Irem has a passion for art. As a film lover, she is very excited and honored to be a part of ever-growing Seattle Turkish Film Festival.
Pinar Mertan
Director of Partnerships
Pinar studied law at Istanbul
University and worked as a legal counsel and sworn translator for Siemens in Istanbul. She's organized many cultural school fairs and events, and is a certified medical interpreter and court interpreter in Washington State.
Ebru Yildirim
Event Coordinator
Growing up watching Yesilcam (what Turkish film and art industry was called in old days) movies, Ebru believes Turkish cinema still has many interesting, mesmerizing, powerful stories to tell and share. She helps with marketing and special events for the festival. On her spare times she works as a Financial Analyst.
Advisory Committee
Sirin Aysan
Festival Advisor
Sirin Aysan is a television producer and filmmaker. She has produced acclaimed series and specials for major broadcasters and streaming platforms. Sirin has covered stories around the globe and is the recipient of the prestigious Edward R. Murrow Award for her work on “Child Brides” for PBS. The television programs she has directed have been nominated for Emmy, Prism, and Telly awards.
Ozgur Arman
Festival Advisor
Film enthusiast. :)
Ezgi Irmak Yucel
STFFShorts Advisor
Graduate student of Psychology at the University of Washington, Seattle. Studies visual perception and sight restoration. Likes orcas, KEXP, and of course movies.
Selim Kuru
Organization Advisor
Selim S. Kuru is an Associate Professor of Ottoman and Turkish studies in the Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilization at the University of Washington.
Our Partners
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STFF is organized by a dedicated group of community volunteers. Your support enables us to continue bringing the very best of Turkish Cinema to Pacific Northwest audiences. Follow us on social media to keep updated!